Device for recovering submarine boats



Nov, 26', 1.929.

DEVICE FOR RECOVERING SUBMARINE BOATS Filed April 12.,A 1928 mm @M uw WMA Patented Nov. 26, 1929 UIT trie

DEVCE FOR RECVERING SUBMARNEBOATS vApplication led April 12,

The present invention relates to devices for recovering submariney boats, and is particularly concerned with the provision of devices for indicating the position of the submarine boat and for facilitating the raising of the boat without the necessity of passing cables underneath the hull.

One of the objects ofthe present invention is the provision lof automatic means for indicating the position of a submarine boat whenever such a, boat is rammed or otherwise disabled, in such manner that water is admitted to any part of the vessel.

Another object of the invention is the provision ofV automatic indicating means of the class described, which is adapted to be actuated bya weight and which is, therefore; not dependent .upon the condition of the engines or` other machinery within the vessel.

Another object of the invention is the provision of automatic means for indicating the position of `a submarine boat and for guiding tackle from vessels uponkthe surface .of the water to the submarine boat, so that tackle may be attached and the boat raised without the necessity of passing cables underneath the hull.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description and from the-accom,panying` drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar partsythroughout the several views.

Referring to the singlesheet of drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of a submarineV boat 'showing the location of my device upon the lboat Figure 2 is avfrontelevational-viewfof the buoy chamber showing` the automatic mechanism for indicating` the position of the vessel and for securing tackle thereto; and

Figure 3 is a side elevational View of the same mechanism. yReferring to Figure 1'I have here; shown a diagrammatic View of the chambers of a submarine vessel, indicated in its entirely at 10, and the chambers indicated may be employed as follows: 11 indicates the location of the compressors and pumps; 12 the engine 0 room; 13 an oil tank; 14 rooms for the crew;

1928. seriall no. ceases.

15 the control room; 16 storage batteries; 17 fuel oil; 18 oliicers room; 19 torpedo room; 20 compressed air tanks; while 21 and 22 indicate the portions at each end of the boat employed for water ballast.

The automatic'mechanism shown in Figures 2 and 3 is preferably located in buoy cliambers23 and24 in the water ballast ,compartments at the extreme ends of the vessel. As each of the buoy chambers 23 and 24 may be identical, l shall describebut one of these chambers with the mechanism in the'chlamber.

rlhebuoy chamber 24 may consist of a closed chamber having` an opening 25 in its upper wall, which is also the upper wall ofthe submarine vessel 10. The opening 25 is closed by a buoy 26 which may consist of a substantially cylindrical hollow body` of metal, having thick walls 27 for vitlistanding the perssure and having lan outwardly extending annular lia-nge 28ajt its upper face7 for .engagement with rthe edge of ythe circular aperture 25 to limit the inward movement of the buov and to effectively close the aperture 25. The iointbetweenthe buoyy and the aperture 25 may beief'tectivelysealed by la layer of plastic cement orpaint to malte a water tight oint. The buoy 26 is provided with an eyev bolt 29 secured in its lower face,7 and thefeyebolt 29 has secured to it a relativelyjstrong and light flexible member 30 which consist of piano wire. Carried by the floor yof the chamber 241 is a strong metallic framework 31 having a pair of upwardly projecting arms 32and 38 for supporting a 'shaft 3e, which is keyed to rotatewith a reel 35. The vframeworkl is also provided with an upwardly projectingyokle 36` having a pair of legs 37 and 38,'which are joined with thebase of the framework 31. The upperportion'uof the yoke 36 carries a strong integral hoolry39, and the hook v39, as well as theyoke, are provided withap'ertures and 41 for guiding the wire 30. The wire 3Q passes from the eye bolt 29 through the apertures 410v and L11 to the reel gvhere a sufficient length of wire may theoreticallybe wound to extend from the surface of the water and the ocean `,bot-

, ried by the tom. Under practical conditions it is probable that wire equivalent to the maximum depth of the ocean would not be employed, but only suiiicient to take care of the average conditions expected. The other end of the wire 30 is clearly attached to the reel 35.

The supporting arm 33 of the framework 31 may also be provided with a pair of guides 42 for slidably receiving a rack 43, which may be provided with an upward extension 44. The framework 31 may also be provided with a pair of laterally projecting walls 45 and 46, having bearings for stub shafts 47, 48 and 49. The stub shaft 47 carries a spur gear 50 meshing with the rack 43. The shaft 48 carries a second gear 51 meshing with the gear 50, and the shaft 49 carries aA toothed sector 52 which may have an integral projecting arm 53, provided with a weight 54. The weight 54 may be supported by a U shaped stirrup 55 passing over a pin 56, which is pivotally connected to a link 57 at the point 58.

The opposite end of the pin 56 may be supported in an aperture 59 in a bracket 60, carwall of the chamber, and the link 57 may be pivotally supported by a second bracket 61. The link 57 is provided at its upper end with a lost motion pivotal connection 62, joining it to the bell crank 63, which is pivotally supported upon a bracket 64 carried by the wall of the chamber.

The bell crank 63 carries on its upper arm a receptacle or tank 65, which is located beneath the outlet 66 of a conduit 67 passing through the wall of the chamber, to a manifold 68. The manifold 68 communicates with a plurality of pipes 69 each communicating with one of the chambers 11 to 2O of the submarine vessel, and the pipes 69 are provided with one-way valves 70, which permit water to iow into the manifold 68 to prevent its return. As an additional safety precaution, the conduit 67 may be provided with a similar one-way valve 71 and with a shut off valve 72.

The shaft 34 is provided with a cam shaped stop member 73 keyed thereto and adapted to engage the lower end of the rack 43 when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 2. The upper end or extension 44 of the rack 43 supports a lever 74 which is pivotally carried 7 a bracket 75 depending from the ceiling of the chamber, in such manner that the lever 74 passes beneath the buoy 26.

The lever 74 may be of substantial width, being provided with an enlarged aperture 76 embracing the eye bolt 29, and the lever 7 4 is preferably spaced from the lower face of the buoy 26 so that the mechanism may gain some momentum before engagement with the buoy. In order to assure the release of the buoy 26, the lever 74 may be provided with an auxiliary valve 77 of conical shape, closing an aperture 78, and having its stem 79 pivotally secured to the lever.

The operation of the foregoing parts is as follows:

When the submarine vessel is rammed or otherwise disabled, in such manner that water is admitted to any part of the vessel, the water will be conveyed by one of the pipes 69 to the manifold 68, thence to the pipe 67 to the receptacle 65. Whenthe weight of the water in the receptacle is suiiicient to overcome the frictional resistance of the associated parts, the bell crank 63 will rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, rotating the link 57 in a clockwise direction, and withdrawing the pin 56 from the supporting bracket 59. The free end of the pin 56 will then drop, releasing the weight 54, which will actuate the sector 52 in a clockwise direction, rotating the gear 51 counter-clocl'rwise, and the gear 50 in a clockwise direction.

Under normal conditions unreeling and tangling of the wire 30 is prevented by engagement of the stop cam 73 on the end of the shaft 34 with the lower end of the rack 43. During operation of the device, the gear 50 then raises the rack 43, moving the lower end of the rack out of engagement with the stop member 73 to permit unreeling of the wire. The extension 44 of the rack lifts the lever 74 which presses against the lower face of the buoy and forces it out of the aperture 25. Only a slight opening movement is required, after which the water iows in at the aperture 25, filling the buoy chamber 24, and the one way valves and 71 prevent water from passing out of the buoy chamber into other parts of the'vessel. Y

In order to assure entrance of water into the buoy chamber upon actuation of the device, the auxiliary valve 77 may be pro-vided, which is placed relatively close to the pivotal point of the lever 74 in order to provide an in-v creased leverage, and the valve 7 7 may be of relatively small area to reduce the total thrust of the water pressure upon it. The water entering through the apertures 25 and 78 will soon equalize the pressure within and without the buoy chamber, after which the buoy 26 will rise freely out of its aperture 25, drawing after it the cable 30, which will unreel until the buoy 26 reachesthe surface of the water. It will be understood that the foregoing mechanism may also be operated manually, either by providing a water supply through one of the pipes 59 or by extending a trip lever 8O through a water tight packing in one of the buoy chamber walls.

When it is desired to raise the vessel, the buoy 26 may be picked up and a shackle placed about the wire 30, and the wire 30 will guide it down to the submarine vessel through the apertures 25 and 76, until the shackle engages with the hook 39. Any upward pull upon the shackle will then secure itwithin the hook 39, and the vessel may be lifted by means of the usual lifting machinery cables attached to the shackles.

It will thus be observed that I have invented a submarine raising device which is adapted to be actuated Whenever any part of the vessel is rammed or disabled so that Water is admitted. My invention also includes means for indicating the position of the vessel and for guiding` lifting` tackle to the disabled vessel and securing it to hooks or other securing means pr vided on the vessel, thereby eliminating the necessity for passing cables beneath the disabled vessel.

While I have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not Wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire toavail myself of all changes Within the scope of the appended claims.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. In a device for recovering submarine boats, the combination of aboat body having a buoy chamber, With a buoy carried in the outer Wall of said chamber, extensible means in said chamber connecting said buoy With said boat, and means responsive to the presence of Water in other chambers of the boat, for releasing said buoy, comprising conduits leading to chambers in said boat, and means actuated by a predetermined amount of Water for releasing said buoy.

2. In a device for recovering submarine boats, the combination of a boat with a buoy releasably carried thereby, Weight actuated means for releasing said buoy, a latch for securing said Weight actuated means, means responsive to a predetermined Weight of Water ter releasing said latch, and a plurality of conduitsl ading to chambers in said boat to carry Water from said chambers to said latter means.

3. In a device for recovering submarine boats, the combination of a boat body having a buoy chamber, With a buoy carried by said body, extensible means secured to said buoy and connecting same to said boat, conduits leading from said buoy chamber to other chambers in said body and means carried by said buoy chamber for releasing said buoy, said means being responsive to the presence of a predetermined amount of Water in said buoy chamber. l

4. In a device for recovering submarine beats, the combination of a boat body havinf` a buoy chamber, With a buoy carried in the outer Wall of said chamber, conduits leading te chambers in said boat, extensible means in said chamber connecting said buoy With said boat, comprising a flexible member, a reel for Win ding said flexible member, means for locking said reel and means responsive operating ,esa 3 toithep'resence: of. water in'fsaid'buoy chamber for releasinggsaid r-eel` and-admittinggwvater to. said'bueychamberzto .release said b'uoy.l

Y .5'.1 a; submarine. safetyy device, theccom-l bination of "a boat, with'fa-ibuoy chamber: havingfabuoy therein, a plurality.- of. conduits leading;to-'other-chambers; of said'boat and adapted tto conveyi Waterftoy saidzfbuoy; cham; ber, and means responsive to the presence aof a predetermined amount of'Waterin said buoy chamber 'for releasing said-buoy.,

6.- Ina-'submari-nezsafety device, the-come binationiof 'a-boat, With a .buoy chamber, vhavinggabuoy-therein, a: plurality ofaconduits leadin-g'to other chambersof said boat and adapted to Iconvey Water' tozsaid buoy chant ber', meansrespensive: to the presence ofA a predetermined amount off Waterl in said buoy chamber' 'fori releasing saidwbuoy, anch ax flex'- ible memberA conneetingfsaid buoy'v and boat.

7. Ina submarine safetyfdev'ice, the combination voff aboat', 'With a. buey chamber: hav-v inga; bu'oy., therein,.. a plurality of conduits leading to other chambers of said boat and adapted to convey Water to said buoy chamber, means responsive to the presence of a predetermined amount of water in said buoy chamber for releasing said buoy, a flexible member connecting said buoy and boat and means for equalizing pressure in said buoy chamber and the adjacent Water outside said chamber.

8. In a submarine safety device, the combination of a boat, With a buoy chamber hav ing a buoy therein, a plurality of conduits leading to other chambers of said'boat and adapted to convey Water to said buoy chamber, means responsive to the presence of a predetermined amount of Water in said buoy chamber for releasing said buoy, a flexible member connecting said buoy and boat, means for equalizing pressure in said buoy chamber and the adjacent Water outside said chamber and means for forcibly projecting said buoy.

9. In asubmarine safety device, the com` bination of a boat, with a buoy chamber having a buoy therein, a plurality of conduits leading to other chambers of said boat and adapted to convey Water to said buoy chamber, means responsive to the presence of a predetermined amount of Water in said buoy chamber for releasing said buoy, a flexible member connecting said buoy and boat, means lfor equalizing pressure in said buoy chamber and the adjacent Water outside said chamber, means for forcibly projecting said buoy comprising a rack and pinion and a Weight oper atively connected to said pinion to actuate said rack.

10. A control mechanism for buoys, comprising a support, a reel, a stop carried by said reel, a buoy projecting member slidably carried by said support, and a Weight for simultaneously actuating said projecting member and releasing said reel.

11. A control mechanism for buoys, comprising a support, a reel, a stop carried'by said reel, a buoy projecting member slidably carried by said support, a Weight for simultaneously actuating said projecting member and releasing said reel, a latch for supporting said Weight, and means responsive to a predetermined Weight of Water for actuating said latch.

12. A control mechanism for buoys, comprising a support, a reel, a stop carried by said reel, a buoy projecting member slidably carried by said support, a Weight for simultaneously actuating said projecting member and releasing said reel, a latch Vfor supporting said Weight, means responsive to a predetermined Weight of Water for actuating said latch and meansl communicating with a pluralty of chambers of a boatfor conducting Water to said first mentioned means.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 4th day of April, 1928.

ANTHONY F. PETRIS. 

